A tribute concert in honour of Tony Allen, master drummer and former drummer of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti will happen on December 29 at Reserve Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The concert, a collaboration between Inspiro Productions; Zome International & Metro Ventures, will also see some home-based artistes jamming with the Paris, France based veteran drummer.
Some of those billed to perform are Gboyega Adelaja (keyboardist to the unforgettable Hugh Masekela), Empress, Adunni Nefertiti and Temmie Ovwasa.
Commenting on the concert, CEO, Inspiro Productions and founder of the Lagos International Jazz Festival, Ayoola Sadare explained that Allen was deserving of the celebration.
He said, “Tony Allen is our very own living legend worthy of celebration. Once the opportunity came for us to do so, we had to. His impact on Afrobeat, Jazz and world music is undeniable. In Europe and on the global music scene, he is still very active, highly recognized, well sought after and respected for his contributions to music generally.
“As he turns 80 next year, we want to be one of the first to wish him a happy birthday in advance in Nigeria with this event as we know many other things are being planned to celebrate him around the world.”
Sadare added that “Tony Allen is a worthy cultural ambassador of Nigerian-African music and we are extremely proud of him and honoured to be able to celebrate him too. This tribute also comes as recognition of the impact the musical creation he was part of birthing, Afrobeat, is making globally and the many fusions it has created and interest it has generated.
“Afrobeat has given Nigerian music an identity moving it from the general world music category to being in a genre of its own like reggae and others. Tony Allen playing and collaborating alongside Fela Kuti ensured and shaped that. We use this concert to recognize that strongly”.
Allen, who currently lives in Paris, was born in 1940 in Lagos. He was a drummer and musical director of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s b Africa ’70 from 1968 to 1979. After he left Fela, Allen formed his own group and performed in Lagos before moving to London in 1984 and later Paris.
